University of Memphis Athletics
Wesley Smith Named a Preseason All-American By NationalChamps.Net
Mar 29, 2006 | Football
March 29, 2006
MEMPHIS, TENN. - University of Memphis free safety Wesley Smith is the first Tiger from the 2006 squad to receive national recognition as he has been named a preseason All-American by NationalChamps.Net.
Smith, who was placed on the second-team, is the only player from Conference USA to be listed on the first, second or third team. Tiger punter Michael Gibson was selected to the Honorable Mention All-America squad, along with 19 other C-USA standouts.
A senior-to-be for 2006, Smith is a three-time member of the Conference USA first team. He opened the 2005 season on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list, which honors the nation's best defensive back. Last year, Smith was also named in the preseason as an honorable mention All-America pick by NationalChamps.Net and Street & Smith.
A native of Oxford, Miss., Smith was ranked third on the squad in tackles with 82 last season. He has recorded nine career games of double-digit tackles, including four in 2005, and has been named a C-USA Player of the Week twice in his career. In his three seasons, Smith totals 269 tackles, nine TFL, two sacks and five interceptions.
Gibson, who finished the 2005 season ranked 11th nationally in punting, is expected to make a run at the Ray Guy Award this season. He was named to the All-C-USA second-team squad last year after averaging 44.6 yards on 59 punts. He pinned the opponent inside the 20-yard line 13 times and had a long kick of 70 yards in the regular-season finale against Marshall.
A native of Tupelo, Miss., Gibson was instrumental in the Tigers ranking third nationally in net punting. He also tallied 18 punts of more than 50 yards last season.
Also named to honorable mention team from C-USA are: QB Kevin Kolb, Houston; QB Jordan Palmer, UTEP; WR Aundrea Allison, ECU; WR/KR Johnnie Lee Higgins, UTEP; WR Mike Walker, UCF; TE Shawn Nelson, USM; OL George Batiste, USM; OL Travis Cooley, USM; OL Cedric Gagne-Marcoux, UCF; DE Larry McSwain, UAB; DE Alex Obomese, UTEP; DE Justin Rogers, SMU; LB Nelson Coleman, Tulsa; DB/PR Joe Burnett, UCF; DB Nick Graham, Tulsa; DB Joe Sturdivant, SMU; Brandon Sumrall, USM; K Darren McCaleb, USM; and KR Jessie Henderson, SMU.
